My Panting Gouramis

[ferrettim]

Those of you that have kept gouramis for a long time, is it normal for them to breathe fast? I try to pay close attention to my tanks and just recently noticed my blue dwarf gouramis breathing pretty heavily. No changes have been made from the tank aside from the addition of about 1/3 bag of Fluorite and a new piece of bogwood which I boiled for about 2 or 3 hours. There is no discoloration, blotching, growths, rot, or anything of the sort. Other fish in the tank are behaving as normal.

Water is still a little cloudy from the Fluorite, but all parameters seem good and tank has been cycled for about a year. pH right at 7, nitrites and nitrates at 0, temp stays constant at about 75F.

 

[sorberj]

This could be some irritation in the gills from the fluorite sort of like a person being in a dust storm. Additionally, the Flourite could have changed your hardness a bit. These two things combined could be inducing a stress reaction. If this just started happening, I'd watch for a day or so and see if it continues. If it does, then double-check your water parameters once the Flourite settles. I'm not certain if it can interfere with the tests, but it is a possibility. Someone more familiar with the testing might be able to answer that part.

 

[SubRosa]

If water parameters are good gill fluke infestation is a strong possibility. Have you introduced any new fish recently without QT?

 

[ferrettim]

all fish get quarantined before going in this tank so i don't think that'd be the issue. I removed one of the gouramis to my QT last night after my post to see if it made any difference but have yet to see any...i'm going to keep him in there for a few days to see if i notice any changes.

i hadn't thought about water hardness so i'll test for that tonight. The water is still a little cloudier than i'd like, even after having done a 50% water change. I'll keep you guys posted.

 

[chek]

Ive kept and bred dwarf gouramis for many years and ive always seemed to notice they will sometimes greatly change the way they "breathe" in their gill movements. Ive also noticed this change in behavior usually corresponds with their breeding getting triggered (either a change in temperature or a water level change) It should be normal and they should be alright. Unless of course it is something else affecting them =)

 

[ferrettim]

thanks chek that does make me feel better...i checked hardness and it's at 7 so should be well within normal range. since i've separated the two, i haven't noticed it as much, though the fluorite has also have had time to settle.